Ball-bearing socket and friction band  stem



Dec. 4, 1928. 11,693,657

w. H. NOEL-rms BALL BEARING SOCKET AND FRICTION BAND STEM Filed May 2` 1925 A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATTESy PATE-M oFFICI-z..

WILLIAM H. N OELTIN G, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TOEAULTIESS CASTEB.

COMPANY, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION. v y

BALL-BEARING soenna; Ann iinroffon BAND' STEM.

Application inea May 2, 1925. Yserial ivo. 27,415.

This invention relates to a socket for tubular legs or the like wherein coc-king of t-he pintle Vis substantially eliminated, and furthermore wherein a detachable pintle is yieldingly retained in a socket opening.

The chiefl object of the invention is to provide a caster socket and caster stein and so associate the same together that lateral play of t-he stem within the socket `will be` substantially eliminated, yet the socket and stem will be rictionally retained together. A

Thechiet feature of the invention consists in t-he provision of a metallic socket body having an opening therein, which body issuitably formed to receive one or more anti-friction laterally engaging elements adapted to receive a caster stem and prevent material lateral movement or-side play` of the stemwithin the socket and which stem is retained in the socket through the medium otl an yannular yielding member. The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims z In the drawings Fig. 1 is a central sectional view of a tubular leg including a caster socket andthe stem and retaining member associated therewith. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1.v Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional view of a second and modified form of the invention, the tubular leg being omitted. Fig. 4 is similar to F ig.` 1 and of a further modified forni of the invention.

In the drawingslO indicates a. tubular leg and positioned within said leg is a metallic socket member 11. Said socket member 11 includes a plurality of wings 12 which wings as shown clearly in Fig. 2, have an inclined or sloping face for forming a Wedge. Said socket is adapted to be driven into the tubular legand be frictionally retained thereby, the longitudinal movementof the socket in the leg being limited by the flange portion 13. The bodyportion 11 includes a central opening 14 which is herein shown closed at its upper` end by a spherical portion or head 15. kAdjacent the lower end of theopening and communicating therewith is a. chamber or enlargement 16 in which there is positioned a plurality of anti-friction elements or balls 17, said balls being retained inA said chamber by a centrally apertured plate 18, the latter being seatable in a recess 19 formed in the bottom of the socket or flange 13. The plate is suitment 122 immediately adjacent thereto. The

stein 21 is substantially the diameter of the opening 14 and very nearly occupies the entire opening'. The stem 21 includes a semispherical head. 23 .at its upper'l end which engages t-he spherical headed portion ofthe socket 15. Herein, and immediately adjacent the spherical headed portion of the stem the same is provided with a shallow groove 24 which receives an annular band 25 of yielding material. Preferably sucha bandis of spring' metal and said band is provided with one parting and is outwardly expansible. The band-is thus anchored to the stem but isentirely receivable by the channeli24 or groove when the stem is being inserted into the socket i opening'. Following insertion the band eX- pands into frictional engagement with the wall of the opening and yieldingly retainsthe stem therein. n rllhe stem is` engaged laterally adjacentits lower end by the anti-friction elements 17 and cooking of the pintle is Y prevented, and furthermore, t'rictional resistance at this 4point, of the socket isalso sub.-

stantially eliminated. l 1 In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a modiiiedform vof the invention. In this form oi' the inv-ention the socket includes a body port-ion 111 which is provided with a centra-.l opening 114 Yand at its base includes a flanged portion 113,

the latter being provided with the recess 119. The head of the opening 114 is curved as indicated at 115 and adjacent thereto in this form of the invent-ion is a portion of' araceway 116l adapted to receive an annular series of anti-:friction elements, such as the balls 117. Y

A sleeve 132 includes the beveledv end-123 and said beveled end engages the balls` 117y and forms aretainer therefor. The balls have lateralv engagement with t-he stem 21 and44 prevent cocking ofthe head of the, stem in the sideiable greater radius of curvature thanthe lhead of the'socket, thel latter havinga conhead of the stern: -The sleeveI 132 at its lower i i end is provided with a similar beveled edge or face123` and a similar series ofv balls-117 is retained thereby and by the ball retainingV plate 118 seatable in the recess 119 and secured therein by the means 120 aslsliown. In this form of the invention lateral play at the head or foot of the socket opening is substantially eliminated. This forin of construction permits tliestem to be of the full 'fit character, that is it substantially occupies the entire Sedert Opening- With ,the exception kOt theV Shallow groove which isoccupied b y tliefrction band 25.

In Fig. i a further modified form of the invention is illustrated, and in this forin of the invention the swiveli'ng characteristics of the stem are further improved by reason oftheaddition-'of an intermediate series of balls 217 retained in position by a pair of sleevesQZQ, the'upper sleeve being associated w` the upper Vseries of ballsl at its upper end and` the lower sleeve being associated with the lower series of balls 217 at its lower end. The upper series of balls is maintained in position by the suitable formation oi the socket as at 216. rl`he lower series of balls is retained in positionby the plate ZlS. The stem 'and friction bant 'are substantially the same as that heretofore illustrated.

yHerein, particularly in Figs. l and l, the socket member 'is shown associated with a tubular leg and is sl'iown having a frictional engagement therewith. It is to be understood-,^"however, that the socket may be otherwise formed-so far as its shape or conformation is concerned7 so that it may be readily securedV to other types of-'legsl l'nthat event it Vmaybe desirable to rivet the socket member tothe;l legs or to bolt the same thereon.V

'Fhe invention claimed is:

'1: Aca'ster and socket for legs including a legsupporting body adapted' for relatively permanent lmounting upon a leg and having a Cylindrical opening Vtherein, a` lateral series of-anti`-friction elements coaxial withsaid openingnan apertured retainerfor said antifriction'eleinents'secured to the body, a caster including` a cylindrical stem receivable by the retainer 'aperture and body opening and laterally engageable by the anti-friction ele4 ments and detachably.v associated with the body, and an annulariresilient member carried'by the-stein.andfrictionally and peripher'ally engaging the adjacent wall for retaining the stem in the opening but permitting forcible detachment.

y 2.- A caster and'socletfor legs including a legsupporting bo-dy adapted for relatively permanent.mounting upon a leg and having a cylindrical opening` therein, a plurality of lateral .series of anti-friction elements coaxial with-said opening, an apertured retainer for said anti-friction elements detachably secured to the body, a caster including-a cylindrical stem receivable the aperture and opening and laterally engageab'le by the antifriction elements` and detachably associated with the body, an annular resilient member carried by thestem and frictionaily and peripherally engaging the adjacent wall for retaining thesteni in theopeninoi, but-permitting, forcible detachment, and detachable spacing sleeve means interposed between each pair of' adjacent seriesvof. anti-friction elements for retaining` the same in position.

'ihe'combination of a tubular leg, a body having sloping exterior sides andv a laterally projecting flange. said body being frictionally and wedgingly receivable by said leg and' being limited'in movement thereon by said flange, sa-id body'having a cylindricafopening tern'iinating .in a curved head, saidopeningI being enlarged adjacent the mouth therecl?, an annular series of' aiittfriction elements receivable by said body, a plate seat-able in s; d enlargement and retaining` said antifriction elements in said opening, and a. spherical headed stein substantially occupying the opening and havinglateral engage-l nient with said anti-'friction elements and axial engagement withthe body head.

1l. A device of the character deiined by claim l0, characterized by the addition of another'annular series of anti-friction elements, the same being positionable adjacent' the head of the socket-for laterally engaging the stem adjacent the headtliereof, and sleeve means interposed between said series of' anti*-4 friction elemcnts for maintaining the same in spaced relation and assuring axial alignment of the stem andV bodyheads. v

5. rlllhe combination of a. leg supporting and' caster supported'body having-a cylindrical opening therein which terminates in a closed end, a plurality of annular series of anti-friction elements receivable by the body opening, means for closing the opposite end ofthe body openingl for retainingftle ranti-friction elements against longitudinal removal, sleeve means interposed between said series of anti-friction elements formain taining the same in spaced' relation, and a cylindrical'caster stem receivable by the vbody opening and substantially occupying the same and laterally and peripherallyengageable by saidplurality of series of anti-friction elements, the closed end of' said body and the adjacent end of the stem being fashionedfor providing a substantially axial line or point to point aligned and relativelyVantifrictional contact when loaded and maintained in said alignment when loaded by the plurality .of series of anti-friction elements.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto affixed inysignature.

VVLLAM ll. NGELTNG. 

